200 unite in solidarity with the people of Israel at Mercer Island event

Special to the Reporter

200 Mercer Island and Seattle-based philanthropists united in solidarity with the people of Israel on May 20 at Jewish National Fund-USA’s “Israel After October 7: What Comes Next?” event at the Mercer Island Community and Event Center.

Chaired by Dawn Gold and Alayne Sulkin, the event combined the bitter and the sweet — exploring how to combat Jew-hatred; remembering the civilians and Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers who were murdered, kidnapped, injured, and still being held hostage following the worst terrorist attack in Israel’s history; and learning about Jewish National Fund-USA’s bold and visionary plan to rebuild the battered Israel Envelope communities that were ravaged by Hamas.

The event’s keynote speaker was Shahar Azani, a former Israeli diplomat who served for 16 years in Israel’s Foreign Ministry and now shares Israel’s story in the international mainstream news arena as the Senior Vice President at the Jewish Broadcasting Service (JBS). During his time as a diplomat, Azani held the positions of Consul for Media Affairs and Spokesperson at the Consulate General of Israel in New York.

Jewish National Fund-USA’s Washington State Board President Karen Mannering discussed Jewish National Fund-USA’s Israel Resilience Campaign (jnf.org/supportisrael) and the organization’s on-the-ground efforts providing immediate aid and support to tens of thousands of displaced Israeli families, as well as its Build Together plan, featuring a bold and visionary initiative to restore the impacted Israeli communities.

“On that horrific day, as Israel faced an unprecedented invasion that shook the nation to its core, Jewish National Fund-USA sprang into action, swiftly mobilizing our network to care for the emerging needs of tens of thousands who were traumatized and displaced,” said Mannering. “We provided not just shelter but also the essentials of life, from clothing to mental health services — ensuring that each person felt the embrace of care and support during their darkest hour.”

Board Member Haley Klein-Sloan, an alumna of Jewish National Fund-USA’s Alexander Muss High School in Israel (Muss) spoke about attending a semester at the premier college-prep, study abroad in Israel experience for American teens while she was in high school, and how it deepened her connection and love for the land and people of Israel. She noted that Muss gave her the tools necessary to combat Jew-hatred while preparing her to be a leader and proud advocate for Israel and the Jewish People.

“Israel became my classroom, and I was immersed in Israel’s rich 4,000 years of history that no textbook could teach me and no map could show me,” said Klein-Sloan. “As a student at Muss, I learned a deep understanding of Israel’s complexities, its challenges, and its aspirations. It’s a love that inspires advocacy, that drives students to become ambassadors for Israel’s story, spreading understanding and forging bridges of peace in a world too often divided. In a time when the world seems fractured, when headlines too often paint a picture of conflict and division, programs like Muss offer a beacon of hope—a reminder that amidst the noise, there’s still beauty to be found, connections to be made, and dreams to be realized.”

Attendees also learned about Jewish National Fund-USA’s Global Conference for Israel (jnf.org/global), which will be one of the largest pro-Israel gatherings in the U.S., taking place Nov. 14-17 in Dallas, Texas.

For more information or to learn about future events, contact Saul Korin, Director, Pacific Northwest skorin@jnf.org or 206-760-1188, ext. 973.